Years ago, when key singers of my church choir were gone over Christmas, I drafted a couple of gals to sing with me for a trio
I wrote out using a setting of this tune I'd found, with poetic Christmasy lyrics which I no longer recall. Something of the " . . . little babe, holy child . . ." type thing. We sang accapella, from the balcony at the back of church. After a long pause,the preacher rose for his sermon, quietly stated that he could add nothing more to what we had just sung & sat down. I was shocked, as we were just relieved to have gotten the notes right.

Dvorak was quite fond of using folk tunes in his works, as did many of the great composers. I remember that my mother used to play "Goin' Home" on the piano & we'd sing it when I was a kid. Born & raised in eastern Oklahoma, her ancestors were Irish, Scottish & Welsh with a dash of Cherokee--common Okie roots. Lots of other songs of Irish, Scottish & Welsh roots were sung in that region with various lyrics, often verses about "pioneer" life. Grandad used to sing "My little clapboard shanty on the plain" adapted from my little ole log cabin on the claim, adapted from . . .


Yes, there were trees in parts of Oklahoma during the "dust bowl" days, and there still are trees today. Dust, too.